I am pleased to announce a 3-day Pranayama program for teens (and adults!). In this program, we will be practicing some of the main pranayama techniques given in our ancient yoga texts. I will also discuss the underlying concepts in the practice of pranayama and all the wonderful benefits that the practice can bring us.
You can join the program either online via zoom or in person at my home studio.
Flyer:You can view/download the program flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
No prior yoga (asana, pranayama or meditation) experience is required.
Program details:
What: 3-day pranayama for teens (and adults)
When: Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:45 PM (US East Coast time, EST)
In-person participation: At my home studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Zoom access: The link to access via zoom will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment.
I received the following note from Chris Mazzara wherein he describes how practicing yoga has helped him get rid of stiffness and pain in the back. He has been practicing yoga regularly for a few months now. Feel free to share your own experience with yoga practice in the comments section below.
[From Chris Mazzara]
I injured my lower back decades ago while changing a tire and thereafter continually threw my back out in various ways: by bending too long to harvest green beans in my garden, by picking up boxes from the floor, by sitting at my computer too long, even by standing at a certain angle over the bathroom sink to brush my teeth or shave. During these episodes it was excruciating to pull on a pair of underwear or socks or to tie my shoes. I briefly obtained relief, but only temporarily, from a chiropractor and a physical therapist. For years I have gotten out of bed in the morning with pain and stiffness in my lower back. Still only in my early sixties, I was all but resigned to live with pain and stiffness as my companions in retirement.
Then in February 2025 I decided to try yoga and contacted Subhash, with whom my wife had done multi-week intensives. Subhash suggested that we meet one on one a few times so he could see exactly where and how I hurt and what asanas I might attempt to relieve the pain without harming myself. He was always patient, kind, and observant, careful to correct me without making me feel self-conscious and careful also to remind me to pay attention to what my body told me whenever I tried something new. Yoga, Subhash emphasized, should not hurt. I particularly recall, among the asanas I learned at the outset, that the first time I did cat-and-cow I nearly cried, it felt so good, and that half-spinal twists opened a door to relief that I had not known of.
In March I joined Subhash’s weekly unlimited class. Typically I attend class twice a week and practice by myself on two other days. The classes, which center on one part of the body or another (knees, hips, back, etc.), depending on what the attendees say when Subhash asks what they want to focus on, are rigorous for me, but I always feel the better for having taken part in them.
One morning in early May, I got out of bed, made my way to the bathroom, and suddenly realized that, for the first time since I could remember, I felt no pain or stiffness in my back at all. It was gone. And it has stayed gone.
For me, the benefits of yoga with Subhash have been miraculous.
Compassion (karuṇā) is to feel the pain of others in your own heart. It is this feeling that propels us to extend a helping hand to those in need. In English, there are three words – compassion, sympathy, and empathy – which have similar meaning and are sometimes erroneously used interchangeably. Let us see what these three words mean:
A regular practice of meditation is known to give you all the above and many more benefits.
I invite you to join me for the next 14-day Meditation Intensive. In this program, I will be presenting the basic concepts of meditation and practice several meditation techniques.
No prior asana, pranayama or meditation experience is required.
A brief outline of what I plan to cover in the course is given in this document (pdf format) in my dropbox folder.
Flyer: You can view/download the program flyer here. Feel free to share it on social media and with your own distribution lists.
Program Information
What: 14-day Meditation Intensive
When: Monday, June 2 – Sunday, June 15, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 AM (US East Coast time, EST)
Participation: Hybrid mode
In-person at my home yoga studio located at 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Remotely via zoom – zoom login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
Recently, I found this nice listing on the net highlighting differences between a guru and a teacher. I found some of the comparisons highly thought-provoking and insightful. You may want to go through these in some depth and reflect on the deeper significance of each.
Teacher
Guru
A teacher takes responsibility for your growth.
A Guru makes you responsible for your growth.
A teacher gives you things you do not have and require.
A Guru takes away things you have and do not require
A teacher answers your questions
A Guru questions your answers
A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil
A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil
A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey
A Guru strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey
A teacher is a guide on the path
A Guru is a pointer to the way
A teacher sends you on the road to success
A Guru sends you on the road to freedom
A teacher explains the world and its nature to you
A Guru explains yourself and your nature to you
A teacher gives you knowledge and boosts your ego
A Guru takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego
I’m delighted to announce my upcoming 14-Day Pranayama Intensive—a deep and transformative journey into the ancient practice of conscious breath regulation.
Reclining twisting asanas are known to be the most helpful in providing relief for low back pain and improving hip mobility. In this article, I will be discussing a few variations of the reclining twisting poses.
I hope you will enjoy practicing with me using the video.
I am excited to offer an Introductory course in Sanskrit language and grammar, designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of this ancient and beautiful language. The course will be offered for 25 weeks, once a week. For this course, I’ll be using the lessons available on the Chitrapur Math website here.
This program is being offered online via zoom only.
Registration/Release Form : Please fill out the registration form, filling all the fields, and submit it online.
Flyer: You can download the flyer here. Feel free to share it with your own distribution lists.
Program Information
What: Basic intro to Sanskrit, 25 sessions
When: Sundays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM (US East Coast time EST)
Starting date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Approx. end date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Zoom link: The zoom link will be provided on receipt of registration and payment.
Fee: $75 (sliding refund policy)
Full refund ($75) if you attend the program without missing a class
$50 refund if you miss one class
$25 refund if you miss two classes
Payment options: check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com) or Venmo (use 9199269717); paypal (go to bottom of page) (Add $5)
Prerequisites:
Familiarity with Sanskrit alphabet
Ability to read the Sanskrit script known as Devanagari
Purvottanasana (पूर्वोत्तानासन/pūrvottānāsana) is an asana which engages the body in an upward and a backward stretch. It offers a nice stretch for the wrists, arms and shoulders, lower back, core, hamstring, and ankles. It is usually practiced as a counter-stretch for the pashchimottanasana, the seated forward bending stretch. In English, it is commonly known as the Upward Plank or the Inverted Plank pose.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘purva’ means both the direction East as well as the front side of the body. The word ‘uttana (uttāna)’ is a combination of ‘tāna’ with the prefix ‘ut’ and means ‘deep stretch’. Thus, Purvottanasana literally means ‘deep stretch of the front side of the body’. This is the counter stretch for the pashchimottanasana which literally means ‘deep stretch of the back side of the body’. The word ‘pashchim’ means both the direction West as well as the back side of the body.
To register: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online
Program outline: A brief outline of what is planned for the course is given in this document (pdf) on my dropbox folder. I would welcome any comments or feedback on this propposed outline.
Commitment:
A firm commitment to complete the program without missing a day
At the end of the program, continue the same practice at home for another 21 days to make it a life-long habit
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